How much do I need? - APE - Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts

BlakeL · 09-30-2009, 08:20 AM

I am going to be getting a 46g Bowfront and was wondering how much substrate I will be needing? I was thinking of eco complete or florite black. Orlando, when will the new stuff be available. I would rather use that if it is better than the other two and not that much more expensive.

AquaZilla · 09-30-2009, 02:02 PM

The new stuff should be here on October 15th'ish....
Hard to say how much with a bow front tank. Maybe I can work up a substrate calculator?
It also depends on how you plan to slope things in this tank. I usually like about 5-6" in the back and 1" in the front... It takes me about 5-7 bags to fill a 36x18" tank?

BlakeL · 09-30-2009, 03:03 PM

Have you come up with a price for the new substrate? If it is too expensive, which is better - Eco or Flourite Black.

AquaZilla · 09-30-2009, 03:18 PM

12lb bags will be around $28. There is more volume of soil vs. eco or fluorite.

If I had to use Eco or fluorite, I would go with black fluorite..

BlakeL · 09-30-2009, 03:51 PM

Alright, I will have to check it out when you get it in. What will shipping be like to 32750?

Jdinh04 · 09-30-2009, 03:52 PM

The general rule I go by is 1lb per gallon. Depending on how much height of substrate you want, there is really no exact answer as to how much you need. Generally when it comes to substrate in the planted aquarium, I would do 3-4" of substrate in the back, then level it down to about 2-3" to the foreground. I think anywhere between 50-60lbs of substrate should be plenty for your 46g bow front.

Also as Orlando stated, the volume of the bags may become a factor. You may need only need 2-3 bags of the new substrate versus 3-4 bags of either Fluorite or Eco Complete.

BlakeL · 09-30-2009, 10:54 PM

If I decide to do MTS, would one bag of top soil and one bag of Flourite Black be enough?

AquaZilla · 09-30-2009, 10:57 PM

I started with around 100lbs of soil from the bag in the beginning of mineralizing soil. When I was done with the process I had about 50-60lbs left. SO, get as much as you can to start. Its always good to have to much than not enough.

You dont want to be short when setting up a substrate in a planted aquarium.

BlakeL · 09-30-2009, 11:00 PM

With MTS, how worried do I have to be with fish/snails that dig? I have heard it is not good and people have had problems when rearranging plants.

AquaZilla · 09-30-2009, 11:22 PM

Keep in mind you will have a cap of about 2" on top of mineralized soil. I dont think folk shave fish that can dig that deep in planted tanks. No need to worry at all.I used Fluorite Black for a cap and was very happy with it.

The key is to take your time doing the soaking and drying cycles. I did the cycle about 6 or 7 times. It came out like cocoa powder. There should be no debris at all, just odorless fine dust dont skip a single step. Clean!

09-30-2009, 08:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
BlakeL Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Longwood,FL Posts: 102	How much do I need? I am going to be getting a 46g Bowfront and was wondering how much substrate I will be needing? I was thinking of eco complete or florite black. Orlando, when will the new stuff be available. I would rather use that if it is better than the other two and not that much more expensive.

09-30-2009, 03:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jdinh04 Moderator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Okemos, MI Posts: 268	The general rule I go by is 1lb per gallon. Depending on how much height of substrate you want, there is really no exact answer as to how much you need. Generally when it comes to substrate in the planted aquarium, I would do 3-4" of substrate in the back, then level it down to about 2-3" to the foreground. I think anywhere between 50-60lbs of substrate should be plenty for your 46g bow front. Also as Orlando stated, the volume of the bags may become a factor. You may need only need 2-3 bags of the new substrate versus 3-4 bags of either Fluorite or Eco Complete. __________________ AquaScapist.com Planted Aquarium Blog & Resource

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09-30-2009, 02:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	The new stuff should be here on October 15th'ish.... Hard to say how much with a bow front tank. Maybe I can work up a substrate calculator? It also depends on how you plan to slope things in this tank. I usually like about 5-6" in the back and 1" in the front... It takes me about 5-7 bags to fill a 36x18" tank?

09-30-2009, 03:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
BlakeL Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Longwood,FL Posts: 102	Have you come up with a price for the new substrate? If it is too expensive, which is better - Eco or Flourite Black.

09-30-2009, 03:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	12lb bags will be around $28. There is more volume of soil vs. eco or fluorite. If I had to use Eco or fluorite, I would go with black fluorite..

09-30-2009, 03:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
BlakeL Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Longwood,FL Posts: 102	Alright, I will have to check it out when you get it in. What will shipping be like to 32750?

09-30-2009, 10:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
BlakeL Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Longwood,FL Posts: 102	If I decide to do MTS, would one bag of top soil and one bag of Flourite Black be enough?

09-30-2009, 10:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	I started with around 100lbs of soil from the bag in the beginning of mineralizing soil. When I was done with the process I had about 50-60lbs left. SO, get as much as you can to start. Its always good to have to much than not enough. You dont want to be short when setting up a substrate in a planted aquarium.

09-30-2009, 11:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
BlakeL Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Longwood,FL Posts: 102	With MTS, how worried do I have to be with fish/snails that dig? I have heard it is not good and people have had problems when rearranging plants.

09-30-2009, 11:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	Keep in mind you will have a cap of about 2" on top of mineralized soil. I dont think folk shave fish that can dig that deep in planted tanks. No need to worry at all.I used Fluorite Black for a cap and was very happy with it. The key is to take your time doing the soaking and drying cycles. I did the cycle about 6 or 7 times. It came out like cocoa powder. There should be no debris at all, just odorless fine dust dont skip a single step. Clean!